Covenant taps Cottrell for fundraising role

Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw has hired a former mayor to lead its nonprofit fundraising campaign.

Carol B. Cottrell will take the reins as director of the Covenant Foundation on Monday, Jan. 28.

The new position coincides with her retirement after 31 years with the Saginaw School District, where she primarily worked as an early-childhood speech pathologist. Cottrell also coordinates the district's Birth-to-5 preschool health effort.

Her departure from the City Council after a dozen years, including a stint as mayor, in November and retirement appeared to signal that the Saginaw booster was moving out of the limelight, but Cottrell called the Covenant position an opportunity to help the community "in a different way."

"This is just a wonderful organization, and I know that firsthand because I and my family have all been patients," Cottrell said.

"I want to utilize the things I learned on the council and with the Saginaw Public Schools to benefit people the way I've benefited. I still feel very strongly about Saginaw, and I want to continue helping -- just in a different direction."

Cottrell will receive about $50,000 a year and oversee the foundation's $3.6 million budget.

Mark E. Gronda, vice president and chief financial officer, said officials at the medical center are attracted to Cottrell's public service record and relationship with the public, which should bode well in her fundraising campaigns.

The nonprofit foundation uses part of its principal to fund projects that improve the hospital and the neighborhoods around Covenant.

"We looked at a number of candidates, but what distinguished Carol was that she was so well connected in the community, not to mention her excellent communication skills," he said.

"Those are things that set her apart from the others, and we expect her to do a very good job for us."